Do Your Job

[DISCLAIMER]

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

Though I don’t agree with some of the content Stoic philosophers expressed about the existence of deities, I nevertheless find value in their philosophical perspectives. For instance, authors of The Daily Stoic quote ancient Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius who stated (page 43):

At every moment keep a sturdy mind on the task at hand, as a Roman and human being, doing it with strict and simple dignity, affection, freedom, and justice—giving yourself a break from all other considerations.

You can do this if you approach each task as if it is your last, giving up every distraction, emotional subversion of reason, and all drama, vanity, and complaint over your fair share. You can see how mastery over a few things makes it possible to live an abundant and devout life—for, if you keep watch over these things, the gods won’t ask for more.

I appreciate Aurelius’s encouragement to focus on a task at hand – as though it may be the last action one may conduct in life. Expanding upon this concept, authors of The Daily Stoic add (page 43):

Each day presents the chance to overthink things. What should I wear? Do they like me? Am I eating well enough? What’s next for me in life? Is my boss happy with my work?

Today, let’s focus just on what’s in front of us. We’ll follow the dictum that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick gives his players: “Do your job.”

Like a Roman, like a good soldier, like a master of our craft. We don’t need to get lost in a thousand other distractions or in other people’s business.

Given this perspective, two matters come to mind. The first relates to my former service on a special weapons and tactics (SWAT)-style team as a Marine Security Guard (MSG; now Marine Corps Embassy Security Guard). The second regards Belichick’s personal affairs.

In the above photo, I served as an MSG in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Although I didn’t get along with every member of the SWAT-style team, each of us remained focused on our diplomatic security mission when guarding the Consulate General in Rio.

This meant that inconsequential grievances were set aside so that we could do our jobs. Even though I cared little for some members of the team, I was prepared to kill or die on behalf of each and every one of them. Thus, my main focus was to do my job, à la Belichick.

This brings me to the second matter of focus herein. According to one source:

The former New England Patriots coach, 73, began seeing Hudson, 24, in early 2023 after his split from Linda Holliday — his girlfriend of 16 years. Hudson, who is 48 years younger than Belichick, is a former Bridgewater State University cheerleader.

There’s been a lot of discussion online about Belichick and Hudson. Personally, I couldn’t care less than I presently do about this matter. This is because I don’t need to get lost in distractions or in other people’s business when focusing on the principles of rational living.

While I do pay attention to many distracting matters in life, I simply don’t care about whether or not a man engages in a consensual relationship with a woman 48 years his junior. Besides, it’s not my job to care about such matters. Conclusively, authors of The Daily Stoic add (page 43):

Marcus says to approach each task as if it were your last, because it very well could be. And even if it isn’t, botching what’s right in front of you doesn’t help anything. Find clarity in the simplicity of doing your job today.

As an MSG in Rio, I did my job by looking out for my fellow Marines. Our duties very well could’ve been the last actions we took, as we were significantly outnumbered by the potential groups who wished us harm.

Alternatively, many people behave as though it’s their job to socially police others by shaming individuals such as Belichick and Hudson for their intimate partner relationship. Imagine suffering a heart attack just as you submit a final post on X (Twitter) about Belichick’s actions.

Is that what you want to be doing as your last act in life? Personally, “it’s definitely a no from me, dawg.” Instead, I’ll do my job as a life coach and psychotherapist while leaving gossip and whoopty whoo to other people. How about you? Perhaps do your job, à la Aurelius.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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